roysue

These are really good additions.  Thanks everybody!

My husband was seen in the medical clinic for a sinus infection on the Regal..  We need a copy of his medical record to file with our travel insurance for reimbursement.  Save yourself a headache and get the medical record while on board.  There is a fee to get them on board, but it will save you a lot of trouble.  Requesting them on line is a big hassle (at least it was for me).  If you have any specific questions, just let me know.

On 3/12/2023 at 11:55 AM, kitiara said:

Thank you, we will be on the Regal next week!
 

Would love to know your thoughts on the musical entertainement on the ship. My app shows music with Gold Strings Duo, Project 5, Christian Bispo and Steelpan Player Tyrone. 

Just off the Regal on March 12th.  The. entertainment on this cruise was terrific!  I listened to all the musical entertainment and I was not disappointed.

British man shot dead at villa in Jamaica - The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/04/sean-patterson-british-man-shot-dead-jamaica

The local media is calling it a "hit".  The man was ina resort standing by the pool.

A little frightening

Yes, it is.  When you do a back to back its a great time to do laundry. 

On 10/8/2022 at 10:25 PM, mom says said:

I don't disagree with anything he said on the video. But to be fair,  he did stress that this change is really only apparent on the newer E class ships. For now.

Thank you for adding some perspective.  My husband and I are both 68.  We just did a cruise on the Celebrity Equinox.  It had some families on board and a wide range of adults.  We were very active and found it to be a wonderful cruise.  Just my experience.

23 hours ago, George C said:

I haven’t seen it since cruising restarted 

Thank you

I know the luggage valet service with Celebrity has not returned after covid.  I just read that HAL is offering LuggageDirect in Fort Lauderdale.   Has anyone heard anything about Celebrity  using this service?  Any info appreciated.  Cruising next week.  Thanks

No, they don't.  The benefits of concierge are pretty limited.

44 minutes ago, _Rick_ said:

The more you can do to minimize your exposure of your travel plans to Celebrity's inept and inflexible 'customer service', the better.

Agreed!

9 minutes ago, Mr. Click said:

Taking a week to do it is not reasonable.  I would call again and push getting it down now and then follow up to make sure someone really did do it and not just "Yupping" you.   Schedules are always changing, even more so now than in the past so this is a good reminder to everyone to always check the schedules and do not rely on TAs or airlines to update you.  

I had this exact situation happen to me. I tried to change through FBC and they were unhelpful and downright  rude.  They said it would have to be sent to Delta and could take 4-6 weeks.  I was very disappointed.  I kept the flight they reassigned me even though I wasn't happy.  The FBC agent told me if I wanted flexibility in the future, I should book directly with the airline.

Sue

22 minutes ago, kimberlydrzymala said:

We will make the cruise as this is 3 days later than the airline travel. However, that does not help the already paid for train ride and fishing trip. I still believe that Delta would have changed this back in May when they made the change but Delta will not speak to her because the flight is owned by Choice Air. I also check my reservation for this trip every day! 

We are in a similar situation.  Delta cancelled our flight.  Delta or FBC rescheduled us later in the day.  With the current airline difficulties, I would prefer to go out on the first flight of the day. They told me there would be a $200 fee and a 30 - 45 day wait while they ask Delta if it's ok to change the flight.  Since our cruise is in 39 days, we are stuck with the flight they picked as a replacement.  We are going in non-stop, one day ahead so will probably be ok but I don't see myself every using FBC again.  Had I booked directly with Delta, I could have changed the flight once they cancelled my scheduled flight.  

6 hours ago, xDisconnections said:

Flights by Celebrity has been very frustrating to work with for our upcoming cruise. I'm not sure I would use them again. 

That has been my experience as well.  The advantage of not having cash on the line for a flight if your cruise gets cancelled, is far outweighed  by their rigid policies.

9 hours ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

FBC is a consolidator.   They put people into groups- thus the lower fares that are often available.   There is a tradeoff for those fares in that you often cannot easily change them and they are not ticketed sometimes until final payment.  With all the flight issues and multiple people having issues I wonder why people continue to fly this way.  Airlines are in chaos today.  The changes are not the fault of FBC.  Just be sure you understand the terms 100% before you book.

Good luck to the OP.

You are right that the changes are not the fault of FBC.  Long story short... my 10 am departure flight was canceled.  They moved me to a later flight leaving at 12:40pm.  With airlines in crisis, this time makes me nervous.  There is a 7am flight but they're refused to make that change.  On the way back they changed my 2pm flight to 5:30.  Yuk.  The worst part was not just that they wouldn't make my requested changes but that they told me I should have booked directly with Delta if I wanted to be able to make  changes.  I would not use FBC again.  For domestic flights, they can't make it cheap enough.

On 7/16/2022 at 4:28 PM, Mary229 said:

We had an issue earlier this month.  It was a massive delay.  Even though we had cruise air I recommended we work directly with the airline on the ground.  We did, we were accommodated and at no further cost.  As I said I buy it for two reasons 1. Price, can you beat AMS to DFW business class for $600? and 2. If the cruise is cancelled. 
 

as to once it is booked I manage it myself.   I agree with in arriving at least one day early and with the current environment if you can manage 2 days that is better.  In many current circumstances you may need an extra day afterwards too

Who are you cruising?   I am booked with Celebrity and I used FBC.  I am after final,payment.  FBC has been less than helpful.  They cancelled my 10am flight and put me on a 12:30 flight.  I asked them to allow me to go on the 7am flight  and they said no and also that I couldn't deal directly with Delta.  I have learned a lot with this trip.   

Sorry, we have done that tour with Captain Marvin's but not with the company you have chosen.  

On 7/16/2022 at 5:11 PM, Twickenham said:

 

So let me get this straight: you're flying the day of the cruise departure, on a flight that (according to Delta's website) gets into FLL at 3:41 pm, and hoping to embark on a ship leaving at 4 pm? Because that is literally impossible.

 

You need to switch to the 7 am flight, because as things stand now you will miss your ship.

Sorry I didn't  explain correctly.   We are flying in on the 16th, then cruising on the17th.

2 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I agree.  The traditional reason to use cruise line airfare is the discount they may have.   Many of us recommended cruise air since Covid as the possibility of cruise cancellations was ever present and if the cruise was cancelled then the air would automatically be cancelled and money returned. 

So our cruise departs onSeptember 17th.  I booked a 10am non stop flight to Ft. Lauderdale.  I have made final payment and now my 10am is "cancelled" and they have rescheduled  me to leave at 12:40 pm.  My time cushion has now disappeared.  Celebrity FBS offered me little to no help.  They offered me a "one time courtesy"  to cancel my flights and rebook at the current rate.   If I had booked directly with Delta, I could have changed the flight through Delta at no charge.  Now I have no real choice but to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.  I don't think  I will book through the cruise line in the future.  Just my thoughts

I thought I'd share my Flights By Celebrity experience.  I booked a cruise many months ago on Celebrity and included theflights.  Flights were on Delta as we have free baggage with them.  Delta canceled out 10am departure flight and rescheduled  us for a 12:20pm departure.  They also cancelled our return and rescheduled us for a 5:30 departure.   I called FBC to see what I could do.  Delta was advertising an outbound for 7am so i asked to switched to that.  They told me that since I was posting payment, they have no obligation to help me.  The offered me a "one-time courtesy change" but here's the rub - they could cancel me current flights and rebook at a rate 3x what I actually paid, or submit my request directly to Delta and allow 30 business days to hear back.  Yikes!  If I had booked directly with Delta, I could have made those changes directly with them at no charge, since they cancelled my original flights.  I'm not sure I will use FBC again.  The plusses did not out-weigh the benefits on this cruise.  🤔

Thanks everyone!

Recent Cruisers,

Has anyone seen any offers to have baggage moved from the cruiseship and checked through airport to final destination?  I know I have done this but can't remember if Celebrity offered it.

Thanks!

Thanks everyone.   It always good to get more input!

Thank you to every for your thoughts 

I was on Enchanted in March.  She is beautiful and I would sail her again tomorrow.  Remember when we worried about Noro, before covid became our big concern?  I believe safety on board is mostly in each passengers control.  Don't get in crowded elevators.  Wash your hands frequently.  Keep your hands away from your face.  Avoid touching things that don't require touching.  Use a mask in necessary crowded situations.  Eat outside when you can.  I traveled with a group of 8, one who is immunocompromised and none of us got sick.  Just my thought.

In many years of cruising, we've always gone in 1 day early and felt that was adequate.  We are cruising out of Ft. Lauderdale in September.  I have tickets  on Delta.  Doe you think 1 day early is adequate,  considering the current difficulty with flight cancelations?